Mactan-Cebu International Airport

Known in the Cebuano dialect as “Tugpahanang Pangkalibutan sa Mactan-Sugbo”, the Mactan-Cebu International Airport (MCIA) is considered as the second busiest airport in the whole country, next to Manila’s NAIA or Ninoy Aquino International Airport, and even belongs to the top 20 airports in the ASEAN region in 2011. It is found on Mactan Island, specifically in Lapu-Lapu City, and has a total area of 1,970 acres or 797 hectares.

History and Development

This airport is managed by the Mactan-Cebu International Airport Authority (MCIAA). The single runway, which is over 10,000 feet, was built in 1956, thanks to the United States that decided to make the place an emergency airport for Strategic Air Command bombers. Back then, the airport was called Mactan Air Base. Aside from serving as an emergency airport, the MCIA also became a C-130 unit base for the U.S. Air Force during the Vietnam War in the 1960s. It was in 2008 when MCIAA announced the funding for the terminal expansion of Cebu’s busy airport, and to improve Philippine tourism and “address the increasing volume of passenger traffic”, President Benigno Aquino III decided to prioritize the completion of the airport’s expansion, including the finishing of the construction of the administration building. The new design of the terminal building is expected to finish by 2018.

Airport Facilities

Currently, MCIA has the following facilities:

A souvenir and pasalubong shop in the pre-departure area

Passenger Boarding Bridge

safety and security machines

spacious hallway

snack bars and restaurants

Flight Information Display System

Electronic Clock System

Public Address System

baggage and cargo handling equipment

entrance gate canopies

airport taxi units with calibrated meters

computerized check-in counters

International Terminal Hall

Pre-Departure Terminal Hall

Duty Free Philippines store

paging counters

telephone services

The airport’s terminal houses domestic and international operations and is capable of catering up to 4.5 million passengers. Here’s a complete list of the different airlines (with their respective destinations) found there:

Going To and From the Airport

The fastest way to reach Mactan-Cebu International Airport from Cebu City is through a taxi, which will cost around 250 pesos. If you come from the airport and want to go to a specific place in Cebu, on the other hand, you may take the yellow-colored airport taxis that are readily available near the airport’s exit, but know though that this kind of transportation is more expensive (estimated one-way fare would be almost 500 pesos) than the white regular taxis. To take a regular taxi, you need to walk for a few meters from the exit. There are also jeepneys, but most of them are only accessible in the MEPZA area, which is about 2 kilometers from the airport. If you are looking for a less costly (yet less convenient, too) way to reach your specific destination in Cebu, take a regular taxi from the airport, tell the driver to drop you off the PUJ area, and from there, you can then ride a jeepney going to SM City Cebu, where you can find a PUJ terminal and take a jeepney going to the particular place you wish to go to.

Aside from the transportation costs, know that you would have to pay a terminal fee of 550 pesos for international passengers and 200 pesos for domestic passengers upon reaching the airport and before boarding the airplane. For a complete guide, such as arrivals, departures, flight statuses, travel tips, and MCIAA profile, visit the official websites of Mactan-Cebu International Airport:

For info about the best hotels near Mactan-Cebu International Airport, click here.

Jan 2, 2014Jessica Arnaiz

Comments: 2

Chock

8 months ago

Hindi ko alam kung saan o paano ko uumpisahan, I still feel so frustrated with the few uniform people in Cebu Mactan Immigration.
I was offloaded from Cebu Pacific last Sep. 24, 2018 at Cebu Mactan International Airport. I was about to travel Sep24 to 28 (just for 4days) in SG. I provided him the receipt of my booked hotel for 4days and my return ticket for 4days as well, all paid! He asked me ‘Anong balak mo sa Singapore?’ So I told him, that I’m going to meet my high school friends from Dubai and America to have a reunion there.
My ticket Departure is Sep 24, 2018 and return ticket is Sep 28, 2018. I have all documents in my smart phone but he refused to accept it because he wanted me to print everything he asked. Thank God that I have it in my hand, but still it didn’t help.

Dear Friends, Please help me share this. One of the strictest Immigration officer asked me to comply all these requirements before I will be admitted to board the Plane. Unconstitutional, out of context assessment on my personality and humanity! Arbitrary and harassing my right to travel. You might experience this if we will not take action now! They are so worried and they don’t like you to look for a job outside the country unless you go to POEA. They discouraged direct hiring, they have their own stupid reasons! Seriously insane!

Cebu Immigration Officer who assist me for cross checking talks like, he’s untouchable, very arrogant! Whatever his personal assessment on me, it’s not constitutional and he don’t have any right to offload me.

These are the requirements and questions he asked me to produce and answer:
Confirmed chat/convo of my friends that we are really having a reunion, pictures of them with me, proofs that we’re highchool buddies, like seriously? He asked even me their Birthdates.
Proof that I graduated in College (Diploma),
Bank Statement good for 6 Months
Payroll good for 6 Months
My ATMs and Credit card
even DTI permit of my work! Actually madami pang iba hinihinging proofs. I already handed him my COE, ano pa bang kulang?

I have some evidence on my smart phone. I showed it to him, but he refused to see. He wants me to print it out.
My flight is 7:20pm, he started interviewing me at 6:50pm, so slow, asking questions over and over gain. And at 7:10pm he wants me to provide a hard copy/print out of all the requirements he needed! Are you out of your mind? Where can I print? and the time? Hindi naman ako taga Cebu, connecting flight lang naman ako from Manila tapos gusto niya iprovide ko lahat yon? So gusto niya umuwi muna ako sa Manila? Delayed na nga yung MNL to CEBU ng 1hr tapos ganito pa ginawa sakin?
Cebu Pac crew waited me until before 7:40pm so I ask the Officer if, am I offloaded? He said, ‘Oo, posible, lalo na pag hindi mo naprovide ngayon yang mga hinihingi ko sayo..’ I said, WHAT?!!! I really wanted to punched his face that very moment. Sa sobrang galit ko halos maiyak nalang ako sa galit pero hindi ko pinapakita, I pause for a minutes just to be calm and talk for the last time to please them, and yes he repeated what he said all over again. God, I want to cast out my NATIONALITY AS A FILIPINO. Is this martial law in Cebu Immigration?
Friends, please share this, we don’t need this kind of immigration officer who don’t use their common sense! They abuse the power of authority vested on them as they think they have so much power over nobody like me. All I wanted was to travel Singapore, go to Universal Studio, take a picture in Marina Bay and try their Laksa, tapos ng dahil lang sa kanila mawawala yung sana’y Travel Goals mo? Bullshit! Worst airport experience ever!